"So where we've had a default level of 0.8 above a one-in-a-hundred year flood being the required amount over the last few years, that will now be a 0.2 level and we will see a number of towns that have had development locked out of them for a non-decision on this issue having a sensible and commonplace development take place," he said.

"Sea level rise is obviously going to be incremental, should it occur, and what that will mean till the year 2040 we will factor in a 0.2 level above the one-in-a-hundred year flood level and that'll mean towns can continue to grow sensibly within their boundaries."